Southwest Airlines Co. benefited from an unusual deal with federal aviation regulators during the recent partial government shutdown: The carrier agreed to cover the cost of briefly recalling a furloughed safety inspector to sign off on putting three new jets into service. (www.marketwatch.com) Plus d'info...

Go Southwest ! You were correct and made a good decision. It was win/win. At least three fed.Employees were able to feed their families. The union also won in that dues were collected and paid. Nothing done was illegal and, certainly,not immoral !

SASO782...yes,i am aware they will receive back pay..i do sir or madam, keep up with the news in written form and on television as well as the internet,and im sure I fact check,google and verify things I see or read more than you..rude remarks are not called for ...have a good day ...

Your original post appears to imply that furloughed federal workers would NOT be paid for time missed.In the future, to avoid any confusion or the appearance of misleading statements, CLARIFY and QUANTIFY....Have a nice day

>>>>>They complained that they weren't consulted as required, and that the arrangement appeared to represent favorable treatment for Southwest at the expense of competitors.<<<<<

BS, my company was willing to pay an FAA employee's fees so we could obtain a Ferry Permit that needed to be done. In the end, I didn't have to do that since we found a retired Inspector who was available. There is NO favorable treatment it's called sound management and having the ability to keep the birds in the air.

I have ordered my staff to compile a listing of former FAA inspectors who can sign off issues we might have during Gvt shutdowns. I'm not about to allow my company to suffer because airheads in DC can't get it together.

This is what is referred to as 'improvise ,overcome, adapt'...Falls under the heading of "problem solving".One insidious fact about how government functions is the layer upon layer of administrative nonsense and bureaucratic crap which grinds the wheels of progress to a halt.Quite frankly, in theory our government is a pretty good concept. In matters of practicality, it SUCKS...